Newsletter #30. The Pain and Promise of Preparing New Leaders
Peak Performance Leader Newsletter - Week 30
The Pain and Promise of Preparing New Leaders
The Hidden Weight of Developing New Leaders
Every leader knows their mission depends on more than their own performance.
The future rests on those who are rising behind you.
But here’s the tension: raising up new leaders is both essential and exhausting.
It costs time you often feel you don’t have.
It stretches your patience when mistakes happen.
It forces you to let go of control before you feel fully ready.
And yet, this is the paradox: the very pain of developing new leaders is also what secures the promise of your mission’s future.
Leadership is not only about what you accomplish. It’s about who you prepare.
Why Emerging Leaders Can Feel So Costly
Developing others doesn’t happen in theory. It shows up in your daily grind.
You delegate, but the work comes back with errors.
You give ownership, but you still get the late-night call.
You equip and encourage, but you wonder if it’s actually sinking in.
It feels easier to just do it yourself.
But here’s the truth: if everything depends on you, growth will always stop with you.
The cost of preparing others is high. The cost of not preparing them is higher.
This Isn’t Just About CEOs
Too often, we imagine leadership development as the CEO finding their eventual replacement.
But it’s much broader than that.
If you’re a team lead helping a staff member manage their first project, you’re developing a leader.
If you’re a pastor encouraging a volunteer to lead a small group, you’re developing a leader.
If you’re a parent equipping your child with responsibility, you’re developing a leader.
Leadership development is not a someday task. It is the daily work of multiplying influence in every environment you touch.
3 Practices for Preparing Emerging Leaders
Let them try before they’re fully ready
Growth never happens in comfort. Give responsibility early and allow space for mistakes.Coach the process, not just the outcome
Correcting errors is important, but coaching the thinking behind decisions is what shapes leaders.Name the leadership you see in them
Most people doubt themselves. Call out the gifts, courage, and capacity you recognize. Confidence grows when it’s confirmed.
Biblical Wisdom on Multiplying Leaders
Moses didn’t carry the mission alone. He equipped Joshua to lead God’s people forward.
Paul didn’t just plant churches. He trained Timothy to shepherd them faithfully.
Scripture reminds us: the future of the mission has always depended on those being raised up today.
Your Leadership Challenge This Week
✅ Identify one emerging leader in your circle of influence
✅ Give them a responsibility that stretches them
✅ Follow up with coaching, not just correction
✅ Affirm the potential you see and the progress they’re making
Want Help Preparing the Leaders Who Will Carry Your Mission Forward?
At The Clear Path Workshop: Clarity, Conviction & Confidence for Faith-Driven Leaders (Sept 15–16), we’ll walk through practical steps to develop others while staying focused on your mission.
You’ll discover how to:
Empower without micromanaging
Build confidence in emerging leaders
Multiply your impact through those you equip
🎯 Save your seat today: philroutly.com/workshop
The pain of developing new leaders is real. But the promise? A mission that outlives you.
On your side,
Phil
